CMDRT - Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician High-Level Disinfection Questions and Answers

Question 1

An MDRT is preparing to use a basin of Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) for manual high-level disinfection.
The Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) test strip fails to show a passing result.
What is the correct immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Discard the entire basin of solution and prepare a fresh batch, verifying it with a new MEC test.

Answer

Record the failure and proceed with the disinfection, but double the soak time.

Answer

Add a small amount of new OPA concentrate to the basin to increase its strength.

Answer

Use the solution for non-critical items only and prepare a new batch later.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of performing a thorough final rinse with sterile, deionized, or filtered water after a device has completed its required soak time in a high-level disinfectant?

Accepted Answer

To remove residual toxic chemical disinfectant from the device.

Answer

To activate the biocidal properties of the disinfectant just before storage.

Answer

To cool the device to a safe temperature for handling and storage.

Answer

To neutralize the disinfectant in the basin, making it safe for disposal.

Question 3

Which of the following are critical parameters that must be monitored and documented for every manual high-level disinfection cycle to ensure its effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

The immersion time and the temperature of the solution.

Answer

The ambient room humidity and air exchange rate.

Answer

The pH level and specific gravity of the disinfectant.

Answer

The date the disinfectant bottle was first opened.

Question 4

A reusable flexible laryngoscope, which contacts the mucous membranes of the throat, is sent to the MDRD. According to the Spaulding Classification system, what is the minimum required level of reprocessing for this device?

Accepted Answer

High-Level Disinfection.

Answer

Cleaning with soap and water only.

Answer

Low-Level Disinfection.

Answer

Sterilization.

Question 5

Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) is a common high-level disinfectant. What is a key characteristic of OPA that reprocessing technicians must be aware of to ensure both safety and quality?

Accepted Answer

It will stain any residual protein (e.g., blood, tissue) on instruments a gray/blue color. [1, 2]

Answer

It requires mixing with a powdered activator before each use.

Answer

It is highly corrosive to stainless steel and must be rinsed off immediately.

Answer

It must be heated to above 50°C (122°F) to be effective.

Question 6

When using an Automated Endoscope Reprocessor (AER) for high-level disinfection, which of the following sets of tasks must the technician perform *before* loading the endoscope into the machine?

Accepted Answer

Point-of-use pre-cleaning, leak testing, and thorough manual cleaning.

Answer

Packaging the endoscope in a peel pouch and adding a chemical indicator.

Answer

Drying the channels with compressed air and documenting the cycle parameters.

Answer

Testing the MEC of the rinse water and initiating the thermal disinfection phase.

An MDRT is preparing to use a basin of Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) for manual high-level disinfection.The Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) test strip fails to show a passing result.What is the correct immediate action?

An MDRT is preparing to use a basin of Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) for manual high-level disinfection.
The Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) test strip fails to show a passing result.
What is the correct immediate action?